Abstract: A low power mass spectrometer assembly includes at least an ionization component, an electrostatic analyzer, a lens assembly, a magnet assembly and at least one detector located in a same plane as the entrance to the magnet assembly for detecting the deflected sample ions and/or fragments of sample ions, including ions or ion fragments indicative of the Vitamin D metabolite within the sample.

Abstract: An epoxy resin-based embedding media doped with a non-conductive dopant to a predetermined w/w % such that the media is non-charging at 1.8 keV. A preferred dopant is polyethylene glycol at a molecular weight of at least 3350, and having a predetermined w/w % is at least 2% and up to 20%, most preferably from 2% to 10%. Another preferred dopant is polyethylene glycol at a molecular weight of 7000-8000 and a predetermined w/w % of up to ˜40% and more preferably of up to ˜30%.

Abstract: A fiber optic based particle manipulation system employs one or more optical fibers for emanating a refracted optical manipulation signal directed at a target particle for fixing or manipulating the particle for examination, research and manufacturing. A target particle may be a living cell or inanimate sample or compound of matter. An alignment linkage controls optical fibers carrying the manipulation signal for focusing one or more manipulation signals on the target particle. Manipulated particles occupy a fluid medium of either liquid or gas, and are responsive to the manipulation signal based on both photon bombardment and temperature differential from photon contact. The temperature differential is based on surface properties of the target particle, as smooth particles tend to exhibit a greater thermal differential for stronger displacement forces driving or affecting the target particle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for examining a beam of charged particles, including the following steps: producing persistent interactions of the beam with a sample at a plurality of positions of the sample relative to the beam and deriving at least one property of the beam by analyzing the spatial distribution of the persistent interactions at the plurality of positions.

Abstract: The invention relates to charged particle beam generator comprising a charged particle source for generating a charged particle beam, a collimator system comprising a collimator structure with a plurality of collimator electrodes for collimating the charged particle beam, a beam source vacuum chamber comprising the charged particle source, and a generator vacuum chamber comprising the collimator structure and the beam source vacuum chamber within a vacuum, wherein the collimator system is positioned outside the beam source vacuum chamber. Each of the beam source vacuum chamber and the generator vacuum chamber may be provided with a vacuum pump.

Abstract: A system and methods of an active protection system (or “APS”) for a platform. The APS has a threat cueing sensor provided at a first position on the platform where the threat cueing sensor detects a threat launched from a threat guidance system at a distance away from the platform. The APS also has a logic system operably connected to the threat cueing sensor where the logic system is adapted to determine an estimated location of the threat guidance system via a distance away from the platform. The APS also has a laser source operably connected to the logic system where the laser source emits a countermeasure beam directed at the estimated location of the threat guidance system to deter the threat away from the platform.

Abstract: A metabolic enzyme-induced micro-nano plastic particle biodegradation method and a product analysis method therefor are disclosed. The biodegradation method includes the following steps: step (1), cutting an appropriate quantity of plastic products into small pieces; step (2), placing the plastic products in a ball mill tank and milling the plastic products in vacuum in a ball mill; step (3), weighing and dispersing the milled plastic sample with water to prepare a dispersion with a concentration; step (4), mixing the micro-nano plastic dispersion with a metabolic enzyme solution, and placing the mixed solution in a vortex oscillator for mixing well; and step (5), incubating the mixed solution in a waterproof incubator. The present invention provides for the first time a method for biodegradation and metabolism of micro-nano plastics under mild conditions and under the induction of a metabolic enzyme, namely, glutathione S-transferase.

Abstract: A face shield and a face shield monitoring and tracking system, which enables the monitoring of the use of the face shield in real time and the transmission and storage of data and information regarding its use for further management and analysis. The face shield is also equipped with an electrostatic field provided on the surface of a front panel, to attract and retain contaminated droplet particles or aerosols present in the environment.

Abstract: A solution for irradiating a flowing fluid through a channel with ultraviolet radiation is provided. Ultraviolet radiation sources can be located within the channel in order to direct ultraviolet radiation towards the flowing fluid and/or the interior of the channel. A valve can be located adjacent to the channel to control the flow rate of the fluid. A control system can control and adjust the ultraviolet radiation based on the flow rate of the fluid and a user input component can receive a user input for the control system to adjust the ultraviolet radiation. The ultraviolet radiation sources, the control system, the user input component, and any other components that require electricity can receive power from a rechargeable power supply. An electrical generator located within the channel can convert energy from the fluid flowing through the channel into electricity for charging the rechargeable power supply.

Abstract: A sample support body is a sample support body for ionizing a sample, including: a substrate formed with a plurality of first through holes opening to a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other; and a conductive layer provided at least on a peripheral portion of the first through hole in the first surface, in which in a partition portion provided between the adjacent first through holes, a plurality of second through holes communicating the adjacent first through holes are formed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving treatment information relating to a treatment plan for proton- or ion-beam therapy intended to irradiate a target tissue; receiving machine-limitation information relating to one or more limitations of one or more machines involved in the proton- or ion-beam therapy; determining a time-optimized beam current for a proton or ion beam based on the treatment information and the machine-limitation information, wherein the time-optimized beam current minimizes the time required to deliver a required quantity of monitor units to one of a plurality of spots, wherein each of the plurality of spots is a particular area of the target tissue; and delivering the time-optimized beam current to the particular area.

Abstract: An aperture device (31) is described, which is attachable to a lens system (13). The lens system (13) is arranged to form a particle beam of charged particles, emitted from a sample surface (Ss). The aperture device (31) comprises an end surface (S) which is to be arranged facing the sample surface (Ss), at least one aperture (38) arranged in the end surface (S), a length axis (32) which extends through the centre of said at least one aperture (38), and at least one gas outlet (10), which is arranged at a transverse distance (T) perpendicular from the length axis (32), and is arranged to direct gas into a volume between at least one aperture (38) and the sample surface (Ss). The end surface (S) within a distance, equal to ? of the transverse distance (T), perpendicular from the length axis (32) has a variation along the length axis (32) being smaller than ? of the transverse distance (T).

Abstract: A mass spectrometer according to an aspect of the present invention includes, to optimize N (where N is an integer of 2 or more) parameters that affect ionization efficiency in an ion source (31), a measurement controller (41) that causes respective units to repeatedly execute measurement on a sample containing a target component while changing values of the N parameters or a value set of M (where M is an integer smaller than N) parameters, in a plurality of stages, and a parameter determiner (53) that sequentially finds an optimum value for each parameter based on a result of the measurement executed under control of the measurement controller (41). At least one parameter whose physical quantity is temperature is optimized prior to all of the parameters whose physical quantities are other than temperature.

Abstract: A method for evaluation of a resin alloy includes identifying and quantifying individual materials contained in the resin alloy. In addition, the method can identify encapsulation and whether or not a single phase is formed, without an additional equipment, allowing easier analysis and evaluation of various alloy materials through evaluation of physical properties of resin alloys.

Abstract: A system for disinfecting an autonomous vehicle includes a light assembly having LEDs configured to emit UVC light into a passenger compartment of the autonomous vehicle. The light assembly includes a heat sink to dissipate heat generated by the LEDs. In examples, the heat sink is disposed in the path of forced air associated with a climate control system of the vehicle. The climate control system may be controlled based on a temperature proximate the LEDs and/or the heat sink. In some examples, the light assembly is integrated into the ceiling of the vehicle and can further include visible light emitters and/or other features.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for identifying and quantifying chemical components in a high-melting-point liquid. One such method includes: receiving, into a nebulizer assembly, a high-melting-point liquid from a molten liquid conduit; aerosolizing, using the nebulizer assembly, at least a portion of the received high-melting-point liquid; delivering, into one or more instruments, the aerosolized high-melting-point liquid from the nebulizer; and chemically analyzing, using the one or more instruments, the aerosolized high-melting-point liquid.

Abstract: A method prepares a microsample from a volume sample using multiple particle beams. The method includes providing a volume sample in the microscope system, wherein the interior of the volume sample has a sample region of interest, and producing a macrolamella comprising the sample region of interest by removing sample material of the volume sample using one of the particle beams. The method also includes orienting the macrolamella relative to one of the particle beams, and removing sample material of the macrolamella via a beam so that the region of interest is exposed.

Abstract: A collision reaction pool ion acceleration apparatus which has extremely low crosstalk. The apparatus comprises an apparatus body, a vacuum chamber, a first tube bundle channel and a second tube bundle channel. The vacuum chamber is fixedly connected to the interior of the apparatus body; the other end of the interior of the apparatus body is fixedly connected to a first insulation seat. A collision chamber is embeddedly connected to the inside the first insulation seat, and a high-frequency electrode quadrupole lens is fixedly connected to two sides of the collision chamber. When charged ions enter the collision chamber, the high-frequency electrode quadrupole lens focuses on the charged ions, so that the incoming charged ions form a new motion trajectory in the collision chamber, and the charged ions are easily separated from the collision chamber, thereby increasing the working efficiency.

Abstract: A large current electron beam is stably emitted from an electron gun of a charged particle beam device. The electron gun of the charged particle beam device includes: a SE tip 202; a suppressor 303 disposed rearward of a distal end of the SE tip; a cup-shaped extraction electrode 204 including a bottom surface and a cylindrical portion and enclosing the SE tip and the suppressor; and an insulator 208 holding the suppressor and the extraction electrode. A shield electrode 301 of a conductive metal having a cylindrical portion 302 is provided between the suppressor and the cylindrical portion of the extraction electrode. A voltage lower than a voltage of the SE tip is applied to the shield electrode.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing charged particle flooding in a charged particle beam apparatus are disclosed. According to certain embodiments, a charged particle beam system includes a charged particle source and a controller which controls the charged particle beam system to emit a charged particle beam in a first mode where the beam is defocused and a second mode where the beam is focused on a surface of a sample.